Nuh Skin Up : Keith Hudson

This album is known as a classic Keith Hudson take on the seventies roots dub out. There are 9 tracks on the original LP released by Joint International and 11 tracks on the newer CD release by Pressure Sounds. The Pressure Sounds CD edition includes a nice booklet that will help guide you in to the world of Hudson's music and explain his relationship with Junior Walker. The Nuh skin up CD release is from 2007. The producers are Keith Hudson and Junior Walker, who is a little heard of talent scout and producer from the seventies. Backing credits are given to The Soul Syndicate : Fully Fullwood, Santa, Robbie, Chinna, Tony Chin, and a few others. The CD release of Nuh Skin Up is a little different then the original LP with some original tracks replaced by dub tracks and the order of the tracks are shuffled around a little too. My favorite tracks on this one is #2 (Troubles) and #9 (No Commitment). Both of these tracks are fine examples of the Keith Hudson style, but he's presented a ton of work that is hard to find on CD. Check out what you can find from Hudson and hope they continue to reissue his past albums.

The Roots of Dub : King Tubby

This is a classic set of 12 roots dub tracks from the mind of Tubby. It was originally released by Total Sounds on LP back in 1975, but I recently picked up a CD copy released by Jamaican Recordings. This disc has a nice combination of familiar Tubby cuts with some different tracks mixed in. It's nice to find some different Tubby beats, rhythms, and versions. Jamaican Recordings does a good job putting together a quality disc with nice sound quality ; produced by Bunny Lee and the backed by the Aggrovators. And of course mixed at King Tubby's in Kingston, JA. The booklet is really only a two page semi-history of Tubby that includes a brief statement by Bunny Lee. Over all I would say that this disc is a good representation of Tubby's approach to roots dub from the seventies - a good look at the past.

Weakheart Fadeaway : Ranking Joe

Greensleeves and Ranking Joe released this 10 track set back in 1978, yet Joe's roots dj messages stay relevant in today's world. This seems like a short album when you look at the length and number of tracks, but each one is an excellent example of 70's roots dj at it's finest. My favorites on this one are #3 (Dread Earthquake), #4 (Natty Dread is a Trademan), and #6 (Weakheart Fadeaway) which is Joe version of Junior Byles "Fade Away" famous from the Rockers Soundtrack : Various Artists. This has got to be one of Ranking Joe's top 3 albums and with talent like Ansel Collins, Sly, and Robbie - I consider it a classic for sure. The studio engineering was done at Channel One by Ernest Hoo Kim, Maxie, and Barnabas - produced by Joseph Hoo Kim. I think the most recent release of this disc is a Greensleeves "Reggae Classics" CD from 2004. You should be able to pick it up for about $6-$8 on the used CD market.

Rockers International 2 : Augustus Pablo

This CD is a Greensleeves 1992 release with 15 tracks total. This roots, dub, and vocal material was recorded at various places all over Kingston : King Tubby's, Randy's, Channel One, and Dynamic Sounds and includes tracks by Hugh Mundell, Augustus Pablo, the Pablo All Stars, Jacob Miller, Earl "Sixteen" Daley, and a few more. These tracks are a really a good set of Pablo versions you might not have heard before especially the one's from Hugh Mundell (Selassie I Veranda) the other standout track to me on this album is Junior Delgado (Away with your Fussing and Fighting). The engineering credit goes to King Tubby, Prince Jammy, and Philip Smart on this mid-seventies compilation. I think this is a pretty good album, but these are a little more obscure tracks that should be paired with earlier Pablo discs such as Original Rockers : Augustus Pablo, This is Augustus Pablo - Rebel, Rock, Reggae : Augustus Pablo, and Who Say Jah No Dread : Jacob Miller. This is a harder CD to find these days and all your usual reggae vendors might not have it - your best bet is to get a hold of a used copy. I'd say overall this is a pretty good CD, I definitely like some tracks a lot more than others.

Willow Tree : Gregory Isaacs

This is a ten track set from the Jamaican Gold label collection. Classic 70's Gregory Isaacs roots vocal selection. My CD copy is a 1992 release and I noticed some similarities between this album and My Number One : Gregory Isaacs . They share a couple tracks including No Speech No Language and Lonely Teardrops. They also seem to share the same photo shoot for the album art. If you want to put one album up against the other head to head I would have to favor My Number One because of the extra Lonely Teardrops versions and the Border track with U-Brown. Willow Tree has outstanding quality tracks as well (#5 Everything is Going Alright) and really it's best to have both albums to give yourself a comprehensive look at Gregory during this great time in his career. The studio is at Channel One Kingston and the engineering by Ernest Hoo-Kim. The Producer is listed as Alvin Ranglin.

The Icebreakers with The Diamonds : Planet Mars Dub

This is a dub set from the Virgin Frontline series of discs, the material was originally released in 1978. Ten tracks total on this one. All the tracks are solid and dub fans can listen to this one straight through. Track #2 (Sweet Answer) and track #6 (Grand Rock) are the standouts. This one's nice and mellow, just nice cleaned up dub with a little Diamonds vocal in the background. The Mighty Diamonds meet up with the Icebreakers backing band. This is a heavy crew featuring Sly Dunbar, Chinna, and a few other regulars. An interesting note to this one is that was recorded and mixed in the Bahamas at Compass Point. Total Jamaican reggae with a little Bahamian flair perhaps. I dig the album art on this one - the "speaker flying saucers" arriving on the scene to perhaps share some fat bass lines with the dreads. This is one of my top ten PURELY dub albums.

Top Ranking Dub : The Revolutionaries

This CD review is a shot back at Rasta Dub ' 76 : The Aggrovators, from the latest HB Reggae Blog. Top Ranking Dub is a 10 track set from 1978 Duke Reid International productions (European import). Both of these roots dub selections are from the mid to late seventies and both are solid to listen straight through. Ansel Collins, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare take the lead on this instrumental set. The dub engineering and mixing by Crucial Bunny seems more like audio management as he just puts the finishing touches on a great instrumental effort by the Revolutionaries. The rear album sleeve says this album is volume 1, but I can't seem to track down any following editions and I don't even know if they're out there. The album art gets a quick mention for the totally seventies zombie gorilla German soldier - I'm not sure what to think of this choice for the cover, but I am entertained by it.

Rasta Dub ' 76 : The Aggrovators

This disc is from the Attack record label 2006, the original LP release is from 1976. It's 12 tracks of solid roots dub from producer Bunny Lee. The Aggrovators lay down the tracks that later got mixed at King Tubby's. Along with The Aggrovators, the Attack label is also known for working on releases from Errol Dunkley (Darling Ooh) and Johnny Clarke. This album contains dub versions of Ites Gold and Green and None Shall Escape. Other notable tracks on this one are #10 (No woman No Cry) and #11 ( Small Axe). Overall this is a pretty good listen. You can go straight through it and not have to skip over any sour tracks. This is a dependable, solid, roots dub CD usually found at a reasonable price.

My Number One : Gregory Isaacs

This disc is from the Heartbeat label released back in 1990, all tracks were recorded in the seventies. 13 tracks total on this one, the last three tracks of the disc have dj work by Barnabas and U-Brown on reprise versions of earlier tracks on the album. Trinity has a brief verse at the end of the title track "My Number One". This is by far my favorite Gregory Isaacs disc of all time, these are the legendary rhythms and grooves; the type that helped make reggae an international music powerhouse. Gregory Isaacs displays his relaxed yet emotional delivery with solid roots backing. Besides the title track, my other favorites on this one are: #1 (Philistines), #7 (No Speech, No Language), #9 (Border w/ U-Brown), and #12 (Lonely Teardrops). All materials were produced at Channel One and Harry J's, a straight-up Jamaican product. Musicians include The Revolutionaries and Soul Syndicate Band among others. There are so many Gregory Isaacs discs and albums out there and I think this one is a great example of some of the best he's got to offer.

Fire Down Below : Scorchers from Studio One

This is a great compilation of classic roots performers released from Heartbeat in 1990. The CD has 14 tracks from the late sixties and early seventies, showcasing artists like: Winston Jarrett, Jackie Mittoo, Burning Spear, and many others. Although the tracks are older recordings, the sound quality is nice and clear. My favorites on this disc are: #1 (Fire Down Below - Burning Spear) and #11 (Sweet Talking - Heptones). This collection was produced and compiled by C.S. Dodd and features such legendary musicians as: Ernest Ranglin, Cedric Im Brooks, Leroy Sibbles, and many more. These are supposed to be all Studio One recordings and the set list features a good cross section of reggae types. This disc has early and classic roots recordings, instrumentals, and even a little dj and nyahbingi chants - a little bit of everything.

Non Stop Disco Style : Dillinger

The title is a little deceiving on this album. This disc is not what us Americans would refer to as "disco style". It's actually some pretty hard core roots DJ work from one of the greats. The original release for this material is from 1978 and it was originally an LP release from the Canadian labels Clocktower & Abraham. 10 tracks total on this disc - I really don't have any true favorites on this disc. The alternating DJ tracks with the dub tracks to follow really kept me listening all the way through the album. The CD's released from the Abraham label are solid productions, but sometimes hard to find. A lot of great seventies roots, DJ, and dub have come through this label. The lack-lustre production of the liner notes and packaging leaves a little information and research for us to find, but the quality of the musical production makes up for it big time.

True Democracy : Steel Pulse

This is the fourth album by Steel Pulse and my personal favorite, originally released in 1982. It has a short 10 track set on the original, but an extra four 12" versions are now available on the re-released CD from Elektra. My favorites on this one are #1 (Chant A Psalm), #5 (Worth His Weight in Gold), #8 (Your House), and #10 (Dub Marcus Say) which is a dub version of #5. David Hinds in the outstanding front man and lead vocalist for Steel Pulse and he keeps the energy running hot with his determined and passionate delivery and conscious message. Steel Pulse has laid the foundation for European roots and culture music and continue to tour across the globe. If they come near your area - don't miss the chance to see one of the hardest touring bands in reggae. Their stage presence and sound quality in concert is excellent and I'm pretty sure you will not be disappointed.